Harewood Now Leader Of Men’s Hockey

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31084, 13 June 1966, Page 14

Harewood Now Leader Of Men’s Hockey

The clash of leading teams in the ninth round of the Canterbury senior . men’s hockey competition resulted in the emergence of Harewood with a clear lead, which is still insufficient .to guarantee championship honours.

Three teams are still within range, and most of the others could produce upsets. University and Woolston waged a titanic struggle for a place in the leading section, and the determination of this group is still under dispute. Results were:— Harewood 2, H. 5.0.8. 0. University 2, Woolston A 1, Selwyn 2, Sydenham 0. Hagley 0.8. 1, Woolston B 1.

Competition points are:—Harewood 7, Hagley 0.8. 6, H. 5.0.8. 6, University 54. Woolston A 44, Selwyn 34, Sydenham 3, Woolston B 4. UNIVERSITY V. WOOLSTON A

A considerable improvement in the standard of its trapping and passing enabled University to maintain sufficient initiative in the first half to gain a lead of two goals. Thereafter, Woolston Increased the pressure by fierce bustling, reducing University for a considerable period to hesitation, doubt and technical error. However, the frantic nature of Woolston’s attacks robbed them of control on the brink of success, and University survived, its convalescence proving most troublesome for Woolston.

R. McHarg guarded the University goal with nls usual vigour and powerful kicking, and C. Ineson, at left-back, blocked, tackled, trapped and intercepted with certainty, although some of hiS passes were disturbingly frail. His partner. D. Wilshere, produced nls best hockey when covering. The outstanding performance of S. Maister at centre-half was a major factor in the result. He moved the ball with greater freedom, blit the very exuberance of his display occasionally caused him to over-drlbble. The covering and marking of the wing-halves, E. Holstein and M. Mikhelson, were most valuable. In the forward line the backtackling, trapping and accurate passing of I. Bishop, at insideleft, and the back-tackling, close dribbling and persistent probing of J. Christensen, at insideright, were the foundations of University's attack. In the centre, B. Maister played his best game to date in the first half, and T. Crossen's excursions along the right-wing were minor thunderbolts.

Woolston’s left-back. J. Abrams, tackled resolutely, but his passing was erratic, and

there was some lack of cover defence at times, especially from the wing-halves. R. Gillespie at centre-half held up the opposition well enough, but was obliged by its positioning to use many square passes. The back-tackling and harrassing of the three insideforwards, N Hobson, P. Bygrave and B. Aldridge, sorely distressed University, and they were always lively opportunists. Although closely marked, B. Judge was always the most serious threat, a point which he made very clear on each of his limited opportunities. I. Bishop and L. Hutchinson scored for University, and P. Bygrave scored for Woolston A. Umpires: Dr. L. McH. Berry and Mr D. Lloyd. HAREWOOD v. H. 5.0.8. Harewood owed much to the errors of Old Boys. The latter failed to convert a penalty stroke, and poor trapping cost two more goals. They gained the initiative in each half in the early stages, but finished with methods akin to the slapstick. Having established a firm lead, Harewood used the right touch-line astutely. Although Harewood assembled its defence with considerable speed, its goal-keeper, S. Cranfield, was required to make seme spectacular saves. The left-back, L. Innes, trapped soundly but passed indifferently; his partner, J. Bate, was more accurate in passing but less certain in trapping. His covering was good. Of the halves. D. Curtis, on the left, after an indifferent first half, improved his positioning and delivered some swift, accurate passes and G. Baldwin, on the right was consistently constructive co-operating effectively with his backs. C Broadhurst’s return to the right-wing added thrust and vitality to the attack, his speed and nimbleness worrying Old Boys, who must have been grateful for D. Stanton's failure to provide him with more chances. L. Smith moved swiftly at centre-forward, and D. Lloyd produced his usual neat stickwork, but did not back-tackle as much as required. Sensible and sound methods made T. Iggo, at right-back, the most stable Old Boys defender. The ruggedness of his partner, Vi Browne, often blocked Harewood but his overhitting cost possession frequently. Although discomforted by Broadhurst’s pace, D. Warren, at lefthalf, trapped surely and passed intelligently, but A. Patterson, in the centre, was stranded in a void for much of the time, his colleagues failing to make use ot his skill. This factor had a major bearing on the result. The vanguard, which has scored only 12 goals this season usually attempted too much in too short a time. For much of the match its most effective area of progress was on the right flank, but this faded eventually because of obsession with speed and long through passes. Harewood’s goals were scored by D. Lloyd and G. Baldwin. Umpires: Messrs K. Mortimer and R. Campbell.

SELWYN V. SYDENHAM Although weakened by the absence of three regular players, Selwyn presented a sound defence, solidly based upon the intelligent positioning and keen anticipation of B. Turner at leftback, and some effective goalkeeping by J. Monk. Its attack moved sufficiently well on the right to provide chances in the circle, and it made better use of these than Sydenham, mainly because the latter's defence was more loose. Selwyn’s use of its inside-left as an extra half-back proved successful in this match. The tireless defensive play of A. Waters at left-half was vital to Selwyn, and M. Berkeley was equally lively on the right. The tactical plan required K. Cherry to dribble deeply at insideright, and he responded well, being adequately supported by F. Wass on the right wing, who moved swiftly In scoring the first goal, as did Berkeley in scoring the second. Sydenham appeared beset with sluggishness, and its weak passing was a bonus to Selwyn. In deep defence R. Fergus covered well enough, and M. Bennett gave the forwards some useful support at times from the half-line. Close and speedy dribbling by D. Petherbridge on the rightwing failed to outflank the Selwyn defence, and a poor service to M. McKinnon at insideright gave him little chance of escaping the close marking to which he was subjected. The remaining forwards tried to capitalise on opponents' errors, but the defensive covering was too much tor them. Umpires: Messrs M. Good and B. Lloyd. HAGLEY OLD BOYS V. WOOLSTON B The play was hardly worthy of the good ground at Ensor's road but Hagley, although plagued by uncertain trapping and dubious passing, won without difficulty, its forwards being able to exert continuous pressure as a result of the supply of ball they received from their opponents and their own defenders. In Hagley's ranks the rightback, G. Clarkson, trapped neatly but tackled reluctantly, and his partner. D. Robertson, completely dominated his area of the field. He was ably supported by G. Smith, the lefthalf. who also waxed ambitious in the attack. The right flank progressed at will, Woolston being quite unable to cope with It. Woolston was indebted to the sound covering of R. Campbell and P. Sutherland, both of whom were handicapped by the Inability of their colleagues to gain unmarked positions. The forward line lacked purpose and combination, but K. Kiernan back-tackled conscientiously, and the left flank partnership met with some success in switching the attack and making centre passes. Goals were scored (or Hagley old Boys by W. Thomson <3>, K. Thomson (2), A. Scott and K. Fletcher, and K. Kiernan scored for Woolston B.

Umpires: Messrs N. Dailey and W. Perry.